STUART PATERSON
Music by Bert Alink
STUART PATTERSON
SURFBOARD MAKER
Cronulla, NSW
“My interest in art is to blame for wanting to build surfboards” says Stuart Paterson. Read More below…
A few photos from the day…
When I shot this film, part of my 30 film 30 day challenge, I was completely out of my comfort zone: neon light all over, an art and activity I knew nothing about, tons of dust, lots of noise.
After covering my mouth, eyes and ears, I shot a series of incredibly foreign gestures and objects. Crazy colours, spaceship style lighting.
Stuart @pccboards has been doing this for nearly 4 decades, each micro gestures he makes is fine-tuned, extremely precisely. Surfboards, I learned, are delicate foam structures, shaped by hand, wrapped in ultra-resistant fibreglass fabric, painted, covered in resin and polished. There is also a chaotic step where holes are made to implant fin bases.
In all that storm of dust and decibels, the slightest imbalance, the tiniest imperfection will be felt by the surfer. Stuart is obsessed with quality control and constantly checks that everything is as it should be.
This made the shoot the most challenging of all: I couldn't stage anything, I couldn't ask to slow down the process, even to give me time to focus. Because if the knowledgeable hand stays too long on the spot, the board is ruined.
I had to film entirely on the fly, ultra-rapid movements that can't be done again. And for the first time ever, despite the pressure, I felt confident that I'd catch something good. I think that's because when you film every day for so many days, your hand becomes more stable, your eye sharper, your movements more precise.
It's by no means a perfect film but I'm proud to have captured snippets of sharp footage shot in these unique conditions. And I hope you enjoy this plunge into a very special and colourful world. For the purpose of the challenge I had to go quick and not capture sound. I’d love to do it again, and hear what Stuart has to say about his craft and his passion for classic guitar…
.
Thank you to my dear friend, surfer and photographer Jacqueline @asurfermum for finding me a surfboard artist, a portrait I wanted in my collection. Thank you Stuart for your patience with a complete surfing novice.
Getting to know Stuart Paterson:
Discover More…
Latest Films Gallery…
Instagram showcase
Short Film
Australia